Microsoft Said to Be in Talks to Buy Code-Repository GitHub

Giant Tech company, Microsoft has reportedly held talks to buy one of the largest software developer platform GitHub. The San Francisco, California-headquartered GitHub has more than 23 million individual users in more than 1.5 million organizations. Software developers use the tools of the privately-held company to store code, keep track of updates and discuss issues.

According to a source, that the acquisition talks turning serious mark a change of strategy as just six months ago GitHub appeared committed to staying independent. There is also a talks of acquisition progressed from a planned joint marketing partnership valued at a cost of $35 million.

GitHub was last valued at $2 billion in its last funding round in the year 2015. Based on a price that was floated last year, the report said that acquiring GitHub could cost Microsoft $5 billion or more.

The talks come at a time when GitHub is reportedly struggling to replace CEO and founder Chris Wanstrath, who announced his resignation just about 10 months ago. Microsoft reportedly toyed with the idea of acquiring GitHub in the past too, which includes in 2016, although GitHub did not confirm those reports. The Business Insider report added that Microsoft executive Nat Friedman may take the role of a CEO he previously headed the developer tools startup Xamarin which is also acquired by Microsoft in the year 2015. Google’s Sridhar Ramaswamy had also been in talks for the top role, the report claimed